State Library of New South waLeS MagaziNe
Eco-fashion mEans grEEn is tim thE nEw black storriEr why everyone and his loves Jane austen thE facts studio about scurvy July 2008 ISSN 1833-1343 July 2008 ISSN 1836-1722 the Library Shop: OPEN 7 DAYS Weekdays 9 am 5 pm • specialises in Australian books, with a more Weekends 11 am 5 pm comprehensive range than other bookshops Ground floor, Macquarie Street • offers one stop shopping for gift buyers. If you re going Telephone: 02 9273 1611 overseas consider our quality Australian books, prints, Fax: 02 9273 1249 maps, greeting cards, photos and souvenirs. Email: [email protected] sl.nsw.gov.au/shop • offers an online shop which showcases Australian books, as well as hundreds of art prints from the The Library Shop is run by the State Library of NSW. Library s pictorial, map and photographic collections All revenue earned goes to the State Library. • has an excellent phone order service. When it comes to Australian books you can trust our know-how! contents
5
3 From the State Librarian
4 Do you know …?
Rare books: A tale of love
5 Behind the scenes
On patrol in Antarctica
6 100 years ago … the Great White Fleet arrived
7 Snapshot
8 The artist’s studio
11 Tim Storrier AM on Studio
12 Home truths 6 14 Tales from the Heritage Collection 16 The scourge of scurvy
18 Discover what’s online
20 Jane Austen: One of life’s great treats 12 8 14
magazine 1 25
21 On this day
22 The quest for answers and knowledge: Fellowships at the Library 21 24 Our favourite cookbooks 25 What’s on the menu?
Cafe Trim recipe: Hearty ham and vegetable soup
26 An indispensable kitchen aid
27 Cookbook collector extraordinaire
28 Eco-fashion makes an impact
29 Climate change advocate Sam Meers
30 Prize-winning books
31 Top 5 Library Shop picks
32 Upcoming events
33 Win a Studio book 28 34 Event highlights 36 Q & A with Andrew Daddo
published by State Library of new South Wales The Library Council of nSW macquarie Street Sydney nSW 2000 Phone 02 9273 1414 Fax 02 9273 1255 editor email [email protected] elaine Stewart www.sl.nsw.gov.au Phone 02 9665 2329 email [email protected] July 2008 Vol. 1 no. 1 iSSn 1836-1722 P&D 2704-06/2008 Print run 8000 (mailout 4500) Design & production anna Cointrel Cover Tim Storrier in his studio at Bathurst, photography photo by R ian Lloyd imaging Services, State Library of nSW Phone 02 9273 1482 printing 30 Bloxham & Chambers, Sydney paper Spicers impress Silk 200 and 130 gsm
2 magazine library update
to our latest and very exciting initiative Welcome from the State Library — SL magazine. We have always been very proud of our magazine, but with so many wonderful things to showcase it’s never been quite big enough! Well, now we have doubled the size, and added a variety of new and regular features on cooking, fashion, books (including specials from the Library Shop), a behind-the-scenes look at what we do, upcoming events, as well as our usual array of stories on items from our wonderful collection — from the quirky to the positively amazing!
We launch our new venture with a peek into the studios of some of australia’s most significant artists. Studio: Australian painters photographed by R. Ian Lloyd is now on show at the Library and the images included in our story are guaranteed to lure you in to see it.
We preview another exhibition coming up in august, Home truths — this time featuring documentary photo-interviews offering a compelling and eloquent record of the lives of ordinary people.
We explain how the scourge of scurvy was finally overcome, delve into the Library’s first-class early australian cookbook collection for some intriguing dinner menus and recipes, and we show you how to make green the new black in our eco-fashion story.
Contemporary artist Tim Storrier am talks about the exhibition and book Studio, philanthropist Sam meers talks about climate change, and radio presenter and children’s author andrew Daddo answers some probing questions in our Q & a.
We hope you like the new look magazine but let us know what you think by writing or emailing our editor.
Happy reading!
regina Sutton nSW State Librarian & Chief executive From the state librarian
magazine 3 do you Left: The Worship of Priapus (the greek god of Fertility), with 19 female and five male figures ? surrounding the terminal figure of know ... this divinity from Hypnerotomachia Poliphili, Francesco Colonna,1499. What was the price of Safe RB/LQ2/C petrol in 1966? What Below: Poliphilo sleeps and dreams was a typical school week like for a primary schoolgirl in rural nSW in about 1914?
Do you know the name and address of the lady who Charles Dickens used as the basis for miss Havisham in Great Expectations? (She lived in newtown and was buried in newtown’s St Stephen's Church.) Does the Library have any photographs from early kinetoscope parlours in australia? These are just some of the questions our experienced librarians have to answer every day! rare books: a tale of love Fortunately, because they are experts in searching for information ne of the most celebrated volumes in the State Library’s vast collection is and have an excellent knowledge of the Hypnerotomachia Poliphili — an allegorical love story penned by a the Library’s extensive collections, O Dominican monk, Francesco Colonna, around 1467. they can deal with many enquiries on The author’s identity, still disputed by some scholars, can be identified through the spot — other enquiries might take the decorated initials of each of the 38 chapters. The letters create the acrostic a bit longer. POLiam FRaTeR FRanCiSCUS COLOnna PeRamaViT (Brother Francisco Colonna Our free Telephone inquiry desperately loved Polia). Service operates monday to Friday Written in an odd hybrid of italian and Latin, the work opens with the protagonist from 9 am to 5 pm on telephone Poliphilo falling asleep under a tree, while contemplating his unrequited love for Polia. (02) 9273 1414. The dream which follows describes Poliphilo’s pursuit of his lover through a fantastic, alternatively, you can use our mythical world of art, landscape and architecture. online inquiry form or chat to a The beautifully designed and illustrated volume was published in 1499 by librarian on the live reference service aldus manutius, a famous Venetian printer of the late fifteenth and early sixteenth AskNow at
in 2007, maggie Patton was awarded a State Librarian s Fellowship to conduct a review of the rare printed collections at the State Library. She will identify and describe rare treasures, and investigate options for improving access to this significant part of the collection.
4 magazine behind the scenes ext time you walk around the While the neglect suffered by the mitchell Library building, have film poster caused considerable Na look through the basement damage, poor techniques used in the windows into the Library’s Collection past can present even greater Preservation labs and you’ll probably conservation challenges. Sticky tape is a see conservator Lang ngo and her notorious example. Today’s conservators colleagues at work. The fragile items ensure that their work can be reversed if you’ve seen in exhibitions on the first future techniques and standards require floor sometimes spend as many months it. materials such as the paste used on undergoing conservation work as they the poster are water-soluble. do on display. Once on display, conservators Found on a rubbish dump, decades monitor the condition of items. after its creation, the 1930s billboard ‘Works on paper are considered poster for the film ‘Strike me lucky’ sensitive material and require strict it’s Mo, now featured in the Nelson standards for display,’ says Lang. Meers Foundation Heritage Collection With exhibition periods limited to (see p. 14), needed intensive three months to minimise light damage, conservation treatment before it could different sections of the ‘Strike me lucky’ face the public. Conservators removed billboard will be shown throughout 2008. dirt with a soft brush and applied Cathy perkins, Publications & Design Japanese tissue with wheat starch paste to repair tears. matching its bright colour above: The ‘Strike me lucky’ poster’s palette with watercolour paint, they damaged surface is retouched with watercolour paint replaced areas of detail lost from the Right: Lang ngo, a conservator at the surface of the 2 m x 2 m poster. State Library, installs the poster
Lifesaver Steve martin ‘on duty’ in antarctica with the maPnHa UBeTaeBa in the background. On patrol in antarctica
it s a little known fact that an australian holds the world record for patrolling the earth s most southern ocean. The State Library s own Steve martin, exhibition curator (and fully qualified lifesaver) has been visiting antarctica for about 15 years as a guest lecturer on board aurora expedition ships. When he s not offering insights into the history of this extraordinary place, Steve says he also has to provide a bit of entertainment for the passengers. With the captain s assistance they find a beach somewhere on the pack ice. While the passengers disembark and go for a walk, Steve erects the surf lifesaving flags (borrowed from South narrabeen surf club where he patrols), dons his full lifesaver s uniform and assumes duty. So far he hasn t had to leap into action, but he s ready just in case!
magazine 5 10 0 years ago... the Great White Fleet arrived
ydney has always turned out to see a big ship and 20 august 1908 was no exception, when Scrowds thronged the foreshore to see 16 United States warships steam into Sydney Harbour. The ‘great White Fleet’ was on a 14-month world tour, staged by President Theodore Roosevelt to display american sea power and goodwill. Prime minister alfred Deakin invited the fleet to australia, and, by doing so, offended the British government because he did not seek their permission first, as protocol demanded. The visit was both an expression of the nation’s affinity with the United States, and an attempt to pressure Britain to increase its naval presence in the Pacific, given a perceived threat from Japan. Deakin’s independent gesture also squared with australia’s aspirations to have its own navy. an album of commercial art commissioned for the fleet’s visit was recently purchased by the Library, adding to its extensive collection of commemorative material. The 16 watercolour and gouache drawings in the album were commissioned by John Fairfax & Sons to mark the arrival of the fleet. although not published, the sentiments they convey are typical of artwork produced for the occasion. Top: great White Fleet enters Sydney Heads, Sam Hood, many of the artists and illustrators were well- Dg On4/7479 known, such as norman and Lionel Lindsay and the above: South australian political leading art teacher antonio Dattilo-Rubbo, but there cartoonist Claude marquet’s portrayal of a symbolic australia are also contributions from Bulletin artists such as with slouch hat and shepherd’s DH Souter, Fred Booty, Hugh mcLean, J muir auld crook beside the figures of Britannia and Columbia, from and James F Scott, who was to be appointed an album of watercolours relating official war artist during World War i. to the great White Fleet, 1908, PXe 965 f.15 One hundred years later the fascination with large ships remains unchanged. Right: america personified by Hugh mcLean, PXe 965 f.12 ed Vesterberg, Original Materials
6 magazine James Flett by Jack Cato c. 1929, gelatine silver print, P2/481
snapshot Before the invention of photography in 1839, portraiture had been the preserve of the wealthy and subjects were usually rewarded with appropriately artistic flattery.
nhappily, photographers soon century soon influenced photographic The technology of photography has realised that the camera could be portraiture, and fuzzy portraits became changed, but portraiture remains a Utoo truthful a recorder of de rigueur amongst the inhabitants of challenge for the photographer. in 1969, physiognomy and sitters were often less Hollywood and their followers. after 42 years of portrait photography at than appreciative of their portraits, in the This fashionable, late 1920s portrait Sydney’s oldest photographic studio, same way that few individuals seem of young australian artist James Flett Freeman & Co., Valentine Waller wryly pleased about their passport identity was taken with a special soft-focus lens, concluded in a piece in the Australian today. The newspapers of the time were in which a turn of a screw drew the two Women’s Weekly that the vanity of quick to point out the problem. in 1846, central lens elements apart, creating a people never changes: the Sydney Morning Herald opined diffuse image. as photographer Jack in those days the handsome about the portraits of george goodman, Cato recalled in his autobiography I Can subjects thought the pictures did australia’s first photographer: Take It (georgian House, 1947), the lens them justice, while the plain ones The ladies appeared the worst was very popular with his female clients: complained that they didn’t. The served; the sun was no flatterer — if my sitter was a debutante of 18, same thing happens today. and from some specimens we have still with the lovely peach-bloom For the digital photographer, it comes seen of photographic likenesses of skin, the lenses would remain down to how much Photoshop is ladies of our acquaintance, we were together … but at 25 when too enough, and should it cost more for the almost disposed to think the sun many parties had taken the pristine computer manipulation necessary to had a down on the whole sex. bloom away, one turn of the screw achieve that ‘glamour’ shot? nevertheless, by the twentieth and the skin would return to 18 alan Davies, Curator of Photographs century, soft lighting, diffusers and keen again. at 35 it required two turns, pricing enabled photographers to and, sad to relate, sometimes dominate the portrait industry. The soft- three … focus ‘pictorialist’ aesthetic of the new
alan Davies is the author of An eye for photography: The camera in Australia, which features a remarkable selection of over 160 photographs, drawn from the vast collections of the State Library. it includes treasures such as the oldest photograph in australia, extraordinary nineteenth century masterpieces, classic images from max Dupain and David moore, a wealth of twentieth century colour and pioneering digital photographs. The book is for sale in the Library Shop for $69.95. alan Davies
magazine 7 8 magazine Feature stOry gloria Petyarre, alice Springs, northern Territory, 12.50 pm, 16 august 2005, photo by R ian Lloyd
the artist’s studio What is so captivating about the photographic exhibition Studio: Australian painters photographed by R. Ian Lloyd? it’s that rare opportunity to study the private space of some of australia’s most significant artists and find clues to their personalities, as well as the influences on their art.
he project was the brainchild of ian Lloyd, a Canadian-born photographer and publisher, who relocated to Sydney from Singapore in 2002. as a way T of getting to grips with australian culture, he decided to embark on a project photographing contemporary australian artists in their studios. Lloyd invited six curators of major galleries around australia for a list of their most significant artists. Surprisingly, the names were different on each of the lists. Lloyd began looking for a collaborator to help refine the list. a number of people suggested the art critic John mcDonald, who they described as ‘tough but fair’. mcDonald agreed to do what he thought would be the ‘odd profile’. in fact, it was the start of an odyssey which saw them travel 50 000 km across australia, over the next three years. First, they finalised the list. mcDonald says they went for the broadest cross- section of artists. ‘We could have done just Sydney and melbourne and focused on middle-aged white males. We wanted to avoid that, so we made some hard decisions. Sometimes the decision was based on the logistics and who was available.’ Despite ending up with a list of 61 artists, they both agree there are probably some people who aren’t on it who should be, but, according to Lloyd, the project was always about the studio. mcDonald says this was a line Lloyd used often with the artists to make them feel less self-conscious. He says the project ‘wasn’t about great artists, but about how artists relate to their studios’. Lloyd and mcDonald spent several hours with each artist. mcDonald’s role was to act as the icebreaker, to relax the artist while Lloyd prowled around looking for the right shot. in the case of Luke Scibberas, an artist based at Hill end, the right shot was taken at 2 am. mcDonald and Lloyd had found Scibberas in the pub about 8 pm. When they finally returned to Scibberas’s home he was keen to show Lloyd his studio out the back of the cottage where he lives. ‘Luke had to hold ian’s hand to get there — it was pitch black and a dark, stormy night. There was just a 40 watt bulb. ian said “OK this is the shot” and went and got his camera,’ says mcDonald.
magazine 9 Feature stOry
The photograph of Scibberas’s in the exhibition. mcDonald says looking In these ‘broken-down shed of a studio’ now at her work: adorns the cover of the book Studio: One thinks of the wind sweeping Australian painters on the nature of through long grass, or perhaps photographs creativity, which accompanies the some great cosmic event in the exhibition. heavens. the studio is Once the photograph of the artist Lloyd and mcDonald agree that the in the studio was taken, the artists were studios appear to be an extension of also filmed responding to a pre- the personalities of the artists. marion the hero — determined range of questions, and Borgelt’s almost gallery-like studio was the footage incorporated into a DVD. so neat, Lloyd had to add some mess to the artist just mcDonald transcribed the artists’ the floor. at the other extreme, the only comments for the text of the book. place to photograph the chaos of angus mcDonald says he realised that nivison’s studio was from the rafters. gets thrown in asking the indigenous artists in the mcDonald says Robert Hannaford’s desert communities the same questions studio, which he describes as ‘dark, at the end. as everyone else was futile. The concept dusty and comfortable’, was one of the of a studio didn’t work. ‘They talk about most interesting, and provides one of the their place or their dreaming,’ he says. best photographs. gloria Petyarre, one of the best ‘He had his studio worked out known Utopia artists, sitting cross- brilliantly. it has a skylight so he can legged on the ground in a ‘shed’ in alice choose the particular light he wants, Springs, is one of many striking images because the way he paints is very tonal.’
10 magazine tim storrier aM on Studio John mcDonald described contemporary artist Tim Storrier’s studio as the ‘sort that most artists see only in their dreams’. The studio occupies the top floor of the former stables of his 1880s house at Bathurst, and has been described as the size of an average house. Storrier says artists’ studios are very idiosyncratic spaces. ‘my studio is not a social space. it’s where i try to work things out and look for insight.’ although the idea of opening up his studio to the scrutiny of ian Lloyd and John mcDonald was like ‘being a minnow in a tank full of sharks’, he admits it wasn’t that bad. Storrier is full of admiration for the ‘extraordinary’ legwork that has gone into compiling the Studio exhibition and book. One thing it makes clear, Both Lloyd and mcDonald found the people who think they are artists, he says, is how different the artists’ experience of meeting and talking to the but when they find themselves in spaces are. artists enlightening. They both cite their the studio with nothing to do but ‘artists are very resourceful. They meeting with Peter Churcher as one of work on their pictures or can make a studio out of the back of the most interesting. Churcher told them whatever, they can’t handle it. a combi van if they have to.’ how he studied music for several years He says the studio is a ‘womb-like While he is ambivalent about the before he became an artist. it was highly space which offers comfort to the artist’, image of himself in Studio – ‘after a disciplined and the complete antithesis but it is also a place which says much certain age i don’t think anyone is of his subsequent art training. Yet that about ‘the psychology of their creativity’. happy with a photograph of strong sense of discipline remains with elaine Stewart themselves’ – he suggests the artists Churcher today as an artist and ‘he still www.sl.nsw.gov.au/events/exhibitions aren’t likely to be interested in the plays the piano for one hour every day,’ portraits so much, as the environment says Lloyd. Studio: Australian painters photographed in which the other artists are working They also learned other things about by R. Ian Lloyd is on at the State Library and their materials – ‘what sort of the artists — their reliance on instinct until 12 October 2008. The Studio book paint, paper, brushes and pencils rather than rationale, their long hours is available from the Library Shop for they are using. of work, and the surprisingly casual $80 and the DVD for $40. ‘artists are quite rapacious in approach of many to lighting. Clockwise from left: seeking information about other artists’ mcDonald says that he has come Robert Hannaford, Riverton, studios, that’s why a lot of them don’t away from the experience with a new South australia, 10.07 am, 9 april 2005 let other artists into their studios. Luke Scibberas, Hill end, definition of an artist: nSW, 2.02 am, 31 august 2004 ‘Having said that, vanity comes into They like to spend time by it too – it’s nice to know somebody marion Borgelt, Sydney, themselves. There are a lot of nSW, 2.09 pm, 18 march 2004 cares enough to include you.’ Photos by R ian Lloyd Tim Storrier photo by R ian Lloyd
magazine 11 Home truths When the then nSW Premier Bob Carr visited an exhibition of documentary photographs at the State Library in 1996, he stopped in front of an image of a moree farmer casually shooting a pen of sheep.
he photograph by John Williams beset by a declining economy, caused by was shocking and the Premier job losses in its two principal employers – T was stunned. He looked at it forestry and fishing. When the tuna carefully and commented, ‘it must be cannery closed in 1999, one in eight something to do with the drought’. Like workers in eden lost their jobs. in 2005, most city dwellers, he was unaware of when the Federal government introduced the australian Flock Reduction Scheme a fishing quota buyback scheme to of 1990, which culled 13.5 million sheep, reduce pressure on depleted fish stocks, purely for economic reasons. the eden trawler fleet was halved. most people are not trained to read as a local, albeit a recent one, photographs, so we simply guess their maddison was able to photograph and content. essentially, we interpret interview her subjects with a level of photographs according to our knowledge intimacy that would be testing for an of the subject and our own prejudices. outsider. Whether it was vulnerable The difficulty of conveying aspects teenagers pondering their future, or of society through single images has older fisherman realising their own always challenged documentary role in the collapse of fishing stocks, photographers. Hence, the extended maddison recorded their touching and captions which accompany some very telling concerns. Above: Loran, 14, & Kiakaha, 14, photographs to provide context. Hayley Hillis and Pippa Wischer 28 November 2000, from the in the 1990s, some photographers photographed, interviewed and filmed series Now a river went out of rediscovered the photo-interview as a people in long-term caravan Eden, Ruth Maddison, Silver means of addressing social issues. accommodation at sites across nSW gelatin photoprint, PXE 906 1 instead of photographing parched between 2003 and 2005. For many it was good growing up here but ground and dry creek beds during the people, particularly those without a job eden was never in the big picture drought of 1994, moree photographer or family support, a caravan is the only for me. Too many people go John Williams turned his camera on the alternative to boarding house down the tubes. no jobs, drugs too easy to get into, too many people around him. He photographed accommodation. in 2000, there were teenage pregnancies. There’s and interviewed 28 individuals, posing 13 535 customers of rent assistance more to life than staying in eden two questions: ‘What does the drought living in caravan parks in new South & having a baby. We grew up believing you can become mean to you?’ and ‘What do you think Wales. The captions to the still whatever you want to. the upside of the drought will be?’ The photographs were distilled from hours of i want to go to a performing responses to his last question varied film dialogue and provide evidence of the arts school. i go to Sydney with from a droll ‘You’ve got to be joking, struggle, resilience and fortitude of those the australian choir. i meet people there who are serious for whom caravans provide a home, not mate!’ through to considered answers about their education & have high about increased efficiency and better a holiday. expectations. i come back here & production methods. Ruth maddison’s images and stories it’s like … oh well … whatever … The exhibition Home Truths examines from the township of eden, together most of my friend’s say eden’s a hole but i think they’ll accept this recent practice of photographing with Hayley Hillis and Pippa Wischer’s living here. a lot of girls stay and interviewing individuals to create recording of caravan dwellers throughout because their boyfriend wants eloquent records of the lives of ordinary the state, have given us a rare insight to stay. people. The process is a collaboration into the personal histories of ordinary Kiakaha between photographer and subject, so australians. i want to stay in eden & get that the photographer is no longer a Home truths, which features married & have babies, but i feel disinterested observer. photographs from the State Library’s like i shouldn’t say that. Self-taught photographer Ruth collection, is open from 18 august until Loran maddison began recording the lives of 7 December 2008. the people of eden in 2000. Her alan Davies, Curator of Photographs photographs and their accompanying www.sl.nsw.gov.au/events/exhibitions text give voice to her community, which is
12 magazine Loran, 16, & Kiakaha, 16, 9 August 2002, from the series Now a river went out of Eden, Ruth Maddison, Silver gelatin photoprint, PXE 906 2 Left: i’m six months pregnant. i’m excited now but it was a shock at first. When i told michael, i was ready for him to take off or whatever — i’ve seen it happen with friends — but so far he’s stoked, so we’ll see. mum says i can stay here as long as i want. i want to stay so she can help me & tell me what i’m doing wrong. it’s easy to be an immature 16-year-old but i want to do the right thing by the baby. maybe the singing is all too much to think about now. i don’t know what’ll happen with school. i’ve got friends who’ve had babies & wanted to go back to school but none of them have. my friends are happy for me. i hope no-one does anything stupid. girls do that. They see the attention you get & want it too. Kiakaha 14 May 2002 i’m thinking about doing social work because i see things happen to my mates ... Drug abuse, eating disorders, kids not wanting to live. How sad is that, if young kids attempt to kill themselves? everything seems so hard for teenagers. i’ll leave, but i’d like to come back. i’d feel more comfortable raising kids here than in the city. The good thing about cities is how different everyone is & it’s no problem. Here if you’re different you feel intimidated, & i hate that everyone knows your business. in eden you become more of a bum as you get older. i’d rather stay home & watch TV now. We’ve done the party thing — the drugs thing — nothing else to do. Loran 13 June 2002
13 m agaz i ne m agaz i ne 13 tales From the herItaGe cOllectIOn
Strike me lucky: the virtual billboard The human impulse to more recently, there has been the rise we have become: one dominated by of graffiti and Banksy’s use of public mechanised manufacture, commerce decorate the landscape brickwork as space for art. and consumerism, individualism, and Beyond the sacred, symbolic and now by information itself. is ancient, as the artistic typography that remains Heritage orders are conserving petroglyphs made by embedded in our landscapes, public examples of iconic signage in-situ, but notices and signage have been most public signage cannot be physically australia’s original disseminating information of a more archived, and much is highly ephemeral. secular and commercial nature for The only practical way of ensuring a inhabitants at the Burrup centuries. systematic record of billboards — and Peninsula on the Pilbara Billboard posters for example, are the the streetscapes that are their context — biggest and boldest examples of printed is through photography. coast attest. text and images that appear in our public The Library’s c. 1905 trade catalogue spaces. and yet rarely are they given the Outdoor Advertising, published in respect they deserve. The lucky escape Sydney by Hollander & govett Ltd, of the Strike me lucky poster, from a demonstrates the potential of council dump, illustrates the vulnerability photography to capture our changing of this type of ephemeral material to city streetscapes and the public signs destruction, and its heritage potential. that accompany them. The poster immortalises one of With the advent of digital australia’s great comedians — Roy Rene photography, and shared image — known for over 30 years as ‘mo’, but platforms on the web, there has never it also represents a whole genre of been greater potential to create new typography that appears in the public inclusive types of heritage collections domain, and indeed, comprises a that more immediately and accurately significant part of our visual culture. reflect the ‘signs of our times’ in our From the little oval stickers on fruit, shared spaces. to neon signs on buildings, and tattoos For obvious logistical reasons, Strike on skin, almost every public surface has me lucky is one of very few billboards become a blank canvas for legal or held by the Library, but with digitisation, Australia’s greatest comedian on the illegal typography of some sort. this type of fixed outdoor typography is screen! ‘Strike me lucky’ it’s Mo, Collectively, this unspoken ‘street now ‘virtually’ within the Library’s reach. Julian Rose, c. 1934, printed billboard poster, POSTeRS 1073/1–5 narrative’ indicates the type of society Colin warner, Collection Services
14 magazine the lifestyle allure or well over 100 years ‘lifestyle’ has foundries, narrow streets and unsanitary been part of the sales pitch for back lanes. FSydney housing developments. Despite its appeal however, the in the late nineteenth century, it was the model suburb movement was relatively lure for the rising middle class to settle in short-lived. During the economic new areas promoted as ‘model suburbs’. depression of the 1890s, many new in 1888, the Centennial Magazine home purchasers were unable to pay for predicted that Harcourt model Suburb, their dream homes. it was several years now part of Campsie, would become into the twentieth century before some ‘a beautiful and quiet haven of repose of the model suburb ideals were revived from the ever-increasing toil and turmoil in new subdivisions such as ‘slumless, of our busy life’. laneless, publess’ Haberfield, and were Sydney land promoters started promoted via elaborate coloured posters. using the term ‘model suburb’ in the The mitchell Library’s unique 1870s, following trends overseas. This collection of over 40 000 subdivision was usually a planned subdivision where plans, dating principally from the 1880s a development company controlled a to the 1930s, provides an insight into the large area of land. The suburbs, aspirations of home seekers and land sometimes designed by well-known developers over that time. architects, typically offered features such Dr Maryanne Larkin, Original Materials as large blocks, wide streets, no back lanes, planned open space and tree above: Herbert Weynton, Plan of North Annandale, plantings. They were a marked contrast Sydney: John Sands Lith, [1886], SP: L5/280 to life in Sydney’s crowded inner city Right: george H Stayton, The Model Suburb of Kensington, Section No. 1, Sydney: John Sands with its bustling wharves, noisy Lith, 1891, SP: K1/15
Friendship albums to Facebook The antiquated pastime of compiling from the paper-based ‘facebooks’ friendship albums may offer clues to the provided to incoming students and staff origin of Facebook – the extraordinary at some american colleges, to introduce networking phenomenon of today. them to the campus community. Friendship albums (alba amicorum) With more than 69 million active users first emerged among european worldwide, participants create personal university students during the 1500s. profiles, combining photos with hobbies The small notebooks, filled with and interests, and exchanging private or inscriptions compiled from a range of public messages with a chain of friends. contributors, strove to be as individual Where the friendship albums in the as possible to reflect the owner’s Library’s collections will always remain personality, social circumstances and as gilt-edged archives of friendships taste. Students travelled widely during forged, each link in the chain recorded 'Remembrances from m ethel their academic careers and the albums ‘For auld Lang Syne’ on its own pastel- Roberts, Jan 1902', watercolour, proved invaluable as a source of shaded page, one wonders how many For Auld Lang Syne: an album for original contributions, autographs personal recommendation to new Facebook accounts will survive the and treasured opinions, (1892– acquaintances. march of technology and the test of time. 1912), Haidee de Lissa (compiler), PXa 566/25 Friendship albums first appeared in Margot riley, Original Materials australia in the 1830s. By the end of the century these sentimental keepsakes had turned into a ‘craze’, particularly The Strike me lucky poster, among young women who sought friendship albums, and posters of contributions from their family, school some of Sydney s model suburbs friends and prospective suitors. are now on display in the Nelson Today’s Facebook, the hugely Meers Foundation Heritage popular networking website launched Collection. www.sl.nsw.gov.au/ in 2004, seems to be a contemporary events/exhibitions/2008/heritage equivalent. The website takes its name
magazine 15 the scourge of scurvy
in the eighteenth its cause was unknown, though many free’ voyages (from 1768 to 1780) that believed that it was related to diet and hindered the acceptance of Lind's century, scurvy was the that fresh fruit and vegetables were research. Cook insisted on serving scourge of Britain’s often remedies. Today, we know that it sauerkraut (which has minimal vitamin is caused by a vitamin C deficiency. C), but also fresh fruit and vegetables Royal navy. On george in 1747, James Lind (1716–1794), to his men, which his many landings an edinburgh-born naval surgeon, made possible. anson’s round-the-world conducted the first controlled dietetic accompanying Cook on his voyage voyage of 1740 to 1744, experiment to find a remedy for what he was the most recent publication on called ‘this foul and fatal mischief’. He scurvy and its treatment: Historical almost 1000 of the 1400 took six pairs of seamen suffering from account of a new method of treating the disease, served each of them an scurvy at sea by David macbride (1726– men on board died otherwise identical diet, but gave each 1778), published in 1767. macbride’s of scurvy. pair a different putative remedy: cider; view was that an infusion of malt, known elixir of vitriol (aromatic sulphuric acid); as wort, would cure scurvy. Cook vinegar; sea water; oranges and lemons, concluded that it was this, and the and a purge prepared from a number of sauerkraut, which kept his ships scurvy- ingredients including garlic and mustard free, not the fresh fruit and vegetables seed. Only the pair given the oranges — a classic illustration that in medicine and lemons recovered. correlation is not necessarily causation. Lind published this information Lind’s research was eventually in 1753, in his book A Treatise of the accepted, 40 years after his pioneering Scurvy. He concluded that oranges book was published, due to the work of and lemons were ‘the most effectual two of his disciples: gilbert Blane (1749– remedies for this distemper at sea’. 1834) and Thomas Trotter (1760–1832). Paradoxically, it was the success of Blane’s 1785 book Observations James Cook’s three, generally ‘scurvy- on the diseases of seamen extended
Right: David macbride, An historical account of the new method of treating the scurvy at sea … London, printed for a millar and T Cadell, 1767, mL 616.394/1. macbride recommended an infusion of malt (wort) as a cure for scurvy. a copy of this book was taken on board Endeavour by James Cook who followed macbride’s erroneous prescription. Far right: Thomas Trotter, Medicina nautical, an essay on the diseases of seamen, volume 1, London, printed for T Cadell & W Davies, 1797, mRB/91. This is Trotter’s own copy of the first edition of this foundation work of nautical medicine, annotated in his hand.
16 magazine Lind’s work. He had collected much of just such a collection, assembled by serve as unofficial ‘scouts’ for his material as a naval physician in the Robert and mary anne Parks of Detroit. libraries such as yours, hoping West indies. in 1793, he recommended included were all these landmark books, that our individual (some say that those aboard a nineteen-week as well as six other relevant items. quixotic) efforts result in finding voyage to the east indies be given lemon Too often book collectors and treasures that ultimately deserve juice — not one developed scurvy. Two research libraries are seen as a place in the public domain … years later, as a commissioner for sick competitors, and at auction sometimes When my wife mary anne and i and wounded seamen, he persuaded they clearly are. But, taking the long view, finally realise our dream of the admiralty to issue lemon juice to which is what great research libraries do, visiting your beautiful city of all seamen. The scourge of scurvy had they are really more like collaborators, Sydney and see important been conquered! Lind, sadly, had died working to make great public collections books from my scurvy collection the previous year. more complete. The Parks collection is preserved in the State Library, Blane’s work had been bolstered by only the most recent private collection it will be a meaningful moment that of Thomas Trotter, Physician of the to make its way to the Library. in 1869, indeed. Channel Fleet. His Medicina Nautica: there was the collection of edward paul brunton An essay on the diseases of seamen, in Wise and, of course, our best known Senior Curator Mitchell Library three volumes (published 1797–1803), collection from David Scott mitchell. became a foundation work of nautical i asked Bob Parks what he thought medicine. of his collection coming to the State Until last year, the State Library could Library. He wrote: not locate a copy of the Lind, macbride, [i]t is a real honor to know that Though rare, there are still or Trotter volumes in any public my scurvy collection was documented cases of people with collection in australia. Blane’s book was deemed significant enough to be scurvy living in industrialised held by only one institution in Victoria. brought into your world- nations, due to poor diet. Symptoms Then, out of the blue, a catalogue renowned institution. it has been include tiredness, irritability, aches arrived from the Sydney antiquarian my experience that private and pains, and bruising. book dealers, Hordern House, listing collectors such as myself often
above: James Lind, A treatise of the scurvy … edinburgh, printed for a Kincaid & a Donaldson, 1753, mRB/90. First edition of one of the rarest and most important books in science in a contemporary calf binding. it would be 40 years before Lind’s ideas for the treatment of scurvy were accepted. Left: gilbert Blane, Observations on the diseases of seamen, London, printed by Joseph Cooper, 1785, mL 616.98024/4. Blane was a proponent of Lind’s views and it was he who eventually removed the scourge of scurvy from the Royal navy. This is the first edition of his classic work.
magazine 17 18 magazine Discover what's online www.sl.nsw.gov.au/discover_collections to the ground’. manner at the gate will not be admitted behaving in a threatening or disorderly potential troublemakers that ‘any person and Lawn. shilling for access to the grand Stand one shilling for admission, with an extra controversial because of the charges: between nSW and Victoria was Sydney which saw an england/australia match off the ground. There were riots in 1879 ground was matched by the spectacle the Sydney Cricket ground. ground was given its current name — stands were given an overhaul and the refreshment stands. in the 1890s the was also a wooden pavilion and several stand at the ground in 1878, but there the Brewongle Stand) was the largest association ground. association, and became known as the military and Civil ground. it was used which was originally known as the Victoria Barracks created the ground, in the 1850s soldiers from the nearby The art/cricket/scg/index.html www.sl.nsw.gov.au_collections/society_ on the from about 1895 up to 2003. For more collection show spectators at the ground Photographs in the online called off. it was taken over by the nSW Cricket for minor cricket fixtures until 1875 when The grand Stand (now known as newspaper notices advised The official inauguration match 1903, photograph, DL Pg 35 melvin Vaniman, 12 December Sydney CricketGround,1903, Panorama ofTestCricketatthe Frequently, the spectacle on the Cricket in Australia collection visit: Australia in Cricket origin rce Ground Cricket of the view for some time, but now you can also life and work has been available online collection of material relating to Seidler’s it’ (1955). The Library’s extensive seen a Seidler house, you’ll never forget one newspaper reported ‘Once you’ve on Willoughby Council in 1950: government, for example, this attack combative approach to local many of the clippings reveal Seidler’s interest — urban design and planning. own work, as well as his areas of architectural periodicals relating to his of press cuttings from newspapers and and 1963–1968. 1957–1962 volumes cover the years 1949–1956, Seidler House, the australia Square award-winning projects such as Rose photographs and drawings of his the media attention of Harry Seidler. as Few architects in australia have attracted scrapbooks Harry seidler/scrapbooks/index.html gov.au/discover_collections/society_art/ Seidler’s scrapbooks visit: www.sl.nsw. To view the as media stories about his personal life. building and Blues Point Tower, as well They include Seidler’s collection There are media cuttings, and houses, all alike. are a dreary repetition of brick the reason why Sydney suburbs architect. Such interference is decision is an insult to any good appearance and their haven't any appreciation of Council members apparently The Seidler scrapbooks Seidler The Seidler’s Harry Seidler collection and Seidler Harry . Three Outrage over sentence Indigenous history in the 1820s, in nSW, two privates in the 57th Regiment, Joseph Sudds and Patrick revealed Thompson stole some lengths of calico from a shopkeeper. They were sentenced to seven year’s transportation to a secondary penal colony for the theft. Unfortunately aboriginal culture is the for Sudds and Thompson, the governor of the day, Ralph Darling, decided the thread that connects us punishment was not severe enough. He increased the men’s sentences to seven to the long history of this year’s labour in a road gang, and personally supervised the design of spiked collars continent and its diverse and heavy chains for the two. human occupation. Dressed in convict garb and weighed down by Darling’s chains, Sudds and Stephen Crease, managing Thompson were drummed out of the army in november 1826. Sudds, already ill, Director, Rio Tinto australia died five days later. Darling’s handling of the case caused an outcry. The Chief Justice, Francis The State Library has historical Forbes, considered the overturning of the original sentence illegal. The newly-free documents, records and artefacts press — headed by settlers such as William of some of the defining landmarks Wentworth, Robert Wardell and edward Smith Hall of indigenous history since the arrival — called Darling a murderer and demanded his of europeans in australia in 1788. impeachment. Through a partnership with Rio The House of Commons in London convened Tinto and the Rio Tinto aboriginal a Select Committee to hear evidence into the Fund, the Library has been able to charge. nearly a decade after Joseph Sudds preserve these items, and through died in chains, Darling was proclaimed ‘entirely digitisation, showcase them to the free from blame’. However, the case raised world through the online collection interesting points about the relative powers of Indigenous Australians. the military versus the judiciary in a colonial To coincide with this year’s annual society and the influence of a free press. Rio Tinto Oration, Rio Tinto and the For more on the Law and Justice collection Library have published some of the and the Sudds and Thompson case items in the collection in Revealing visit:www.sl.nsw.gov.au/discover_collections/ Indigenous history: A selection from history_nation/justice/sudds/index.html the State Library’s collections. The book includes the accounts of people such as community leaders edwin atkinson and his wife ellen, who were involved in the 1939 Cummeragunja Walk-off — an event above: Detail from Reply in credited with influencing policies refutation of the pamphlets of affecting aboriginal people in nSW. Lieut.–Gen. R. Darling … by edw. Smith Hall, editor and The publication is free and proprietor of the Sydney available from the State Library Monitor, DSm 991/R Foundation on telephone 02 9273 1593. Left: Harry Seidler’s scrapbooks, 1949–1968, from Seidler family – further papers, mr and mrs eddie atkinson, native missionaries [of] 1949–1987, mLmSS 5467 Cummeragunja [with two children], n.d., Kerrie & Co, aDD-On 2146 boxes 2-3 PXa 773/box 6/29
magazine 19 Jane austen: one of life’s great treats! it says a lot about marketers’ expectations of women today — and the fantasy effect of mr Darcy from Pride and Prejudice — that you can buy an expensive cake of ‘mr Darcy Soap’ – ‘to rub yourself all over with when you take a bath’.
ride and Prejudice has been popping up on the big and small screen for years, but it seems these days that you cannot help but bump into Jane Pausten. Over the last 18 months there have been nine movie or TV versions of her novels, versions of her life or modern adaptations of her works. There are UK tours of Jane austen country, Jane austen balls and, of course, there’s the Jane austen product merchandising. For members of the Jane austen Society of australia, this comes as no surprise. We feel that the rest of the world is finally catching on to what we have always known — that Jane austen is the greatest novelist ever! But what is her appeal today? Firstly, Jane austen is funny. With tales of war and terrorism competing with the horrors of other daily news, it’s a great relief to have something or someone to laugh at and mr Collins, Lady Catherine and mr Woodhouse certainly fit the bill. Jane austen is great therapy — she lifts the spirits. Her wit and irony are as fresh and funny on the twentieth reading as they are on the first. Then there is the romance. Pride and Prejudice was recently voted the most romantic novel ever written. no matter how many times you read it, there is joy each time elizabeth and Darcy get together. Surely the ending of Persuasion, when Captain Wentworth writes his love letter, is the most intensely romantic scene in literature, while emma’s moment of realisation about her true feelings for mr Knightley has drama, passion, and true humanity One of many film adaptations of all combined. Jane austen's Pride and Prejudice starring Keira Knightley However, for me, the main reason to revisit Jane austen’s books is her and matthew macFadyen. insight into human nature. everyone has endured a miss Bates (a woman who amanda edwards/getty images cannot stop talking and goes on and on), or encountered a mrs norris (the stingy type who forgets a wallet when it’s their turn to pay for drinks) or been exposed to a hypochondriac like mary musgrove, whose ‘headaches are always worse than anybody’s’. Jane austen shows her characters confronting life’s challenges — finding a partner in life, making friends and keeping them, making career choices against parental opposition, being tempted by money and status, putting up with difficult bosses who demand flattery. She writes of the importance of education, of personal integrity and honesty. She examines difficult relations between parents and children, and looks at the breakdown of social The Jane austen Society meets boundaries and the consequences. These are all vital in our modern world just regularly in Roseville, contact: as they were vital in hers. and it is all packaged in the most elegant, superbly www.jasa.net.au or crafted language. phone (02) 9380 5894 Reading a Jane austen novel is simply one of life’s great treats! Susannah fullerton, President, Jane Austen Society of Australia
Susannah Fullerton has been a popular speaker at the State Library of nSW for many years. She has been President of the Jane austen Society of australia for the past 13 years and regularly appears on radio and television. She is the author of Jane Austen: Antipodean views and Jane Austen and crime, and is currently working on her third book. This year, Susannah has been short-listed in the UK for an ‘Outstanding Jane austen Contribution’ award.
20 magazine on this day...
12 July 1776 Captain James Cook leaves England on the Resolution to go in search of the fabled Northwest Passage. Drawings and watercolours by William Hodges show the Resolution and the Adventure in Antarctic waters during Cook s previous voyage, c. 1775. PXD 11 f. 28
2 August 1807 Billy Blue, a West Indian transported to NSW in 1801, becomes Sydney s first licensed ferryman. His ferry service ran between Millers Point and Blues Point. This portrait of Billy Blue, c. 1834, is by JB East. ML 560
27 August 1908 Don Bradman, regarded as the world s best ever batsman, was born at Bowral, NSW. This photograph by Sam Hood shows Bradman in the 1930s with his Don Bradman brand Sykes bat. Home & Away 2389
1 October 1935 Males over four years are required by law to cover their chests at the beach. This image shows a publicity stunt for Ken Hall s 1937 Cinesound film It isn t done. Home & Away 14047
17 September 1828 The holey dollar, the State s first distinct coinage, is withdrawn from 22 September 1882
Cathy perkins & Margot riley circulation. This 1813 coin in the The Garden Palace in the Royal Botanic Gardens is destroyed by fire. Built in 1879 to Library s collection was created from a house the Sydney International Exhibition, the largely timber structure was inspired by Spanish dollar, stamped with the name London s Crystal Palace. John Hoyte s 1882 watercolour is titled The burning of the of the colony and given a new value of Garden Palace from the North Shore. v1/HAR/1880 1889/7 five shillings. R277 a, b Compiled by
magazine 21 Fellowships Jill Dimond, photo by Dave Burrows Robert Holden the quest for ANzAC diaries Agnes Maria
The State Library has 400 World War i Hamilton-Grey answers and diaries and Robert Holden, joint recipient of the CH Currey Fellowship, has already agnes maria Hamilton–grey (1853–1937) knowledge: become enthralled by the tales they tell. was a fascinating woman whose passion One of the diaries recounts the shocking for the dead poet Henry Kendall was detail that few anzaC signallers ‘lasted expressed in a series of public lectures, fellowships more than three days’. One of these three privately-printed books and the signallers,Tom Skeyhill, was repatriated beautiful Henry Kendall memorial Seat at the library home ‘blind from shell concussion’. Tom in Sydney’s Botanic gardens. went on to create headline news for his Jill Dimond, this year’s recipient of each year, the State war poetry and was miraculously cured the Library Council of nSW Honorary of his blindness by Theodore Roosevelt’s Fellowship, wants to complete a Library offers several osteopath. biography of Hamilton-grey. Using the Tom Skeyhill shared the stage with Hamilton-grey papers in the State fellowships for research Roosevelt at Carnegie Hall (new York) Library, Jill wrote a short biography of into the remarkable on 7 may 1918, where he raised $23m mrs Hamilton-grey, which won the FaW in 23 minutes. The headlines called him Walter Stone award in 2006. She now collections at the Library. ‘The million Dollar a minute man!’ wants to expand this into a full-length Roosevelt himself enthused, work by researching trance lectures These fellows are on a ‘i would rather be on the platform with and anti-spiritualist exposés, early quest to answer Tom Skeyhill than any other man i know’. female public lecturers and the history (Stay tuned for our november issue of literary biography. questions and make which will reveal more of Tom Skeyhill’s along the way Jill hopes to solve a new discoveries. fascinating life.) few mysteries in mrs Hamilton-grey’s life!
Arthur Upfield’s Aboriginal detective
arthur Upfield wrote 29 crime novels between 1929 and 1966, featuring an australian aboriginal detective of mixed descent, Chief inspector napoleon Bonaparte (or Bony). Upfield, an expatriate englishman, was fascinated by australia, its landscape and its people. His novels not only provided commentary on australian attitudes towards its indigenous people and the land, they also contained memorable images of rural australia. Dr Christine Cheater, recipient of the national and State Library australasia Honorary Fellowship, will focus her research on how Upfield used the landscape, historic events, real crimes and personal observations of life in rural communities to write his books.
22 magazine Fellowships
Religion Church & Missions Dr Robert Kenny will use the Library s Religion Church & missions Collection to investigate the changes to, and diversity of religious perceptions of, racial difference from the 1860s to the 1960s. This period includes the influences of natural selection, the rise of imperialism, australian Federation, and culminates in the 1967 aboriginal rights referendum. Dr Kenny will examine a variety of issues including how racial difference was explained; the attitudes exhibited in missionary
Dr Rod Fensham endeavours; and consider how the european experience of indigenous Explorer Ludwig peoples influenced religious perceptions. Leichhardt Dr Robert Kenny, photo by ian Hill
Before Ludwig Leichhardt became Botany Bay in British famous through his expeditions and popular literature notorious disappearance, he spent 30 months in new South Wales between Dr nathan garvey, joint recipient of the years 1842 and 1844. These early the CH Currey Fellowship, will examine years in australia included eight months the way Botany Bay was presented in in and around Sydney and an extended British popular literature during the stay in what is now south-east period 1786 1840. He will look at how Queensland. The mitchell Library has this literature was produced, what its five unpublished diaries from this period, original readership was, and how it written in german. functioned to build a certain picture These extraordinary documents have of the australian colonies in the detailed descriptions of Sydney society nineteenth century european at the time, the state of european imagination. He is particularly settlement, the nature of aboriginal interested in the way factual reports culture and the geography of the region. from new South Wales were The diaries also make important transformed for popular consumption.
observations on geology, as well as Dr nathan garvey flora and fauna, and provide an insight into the character of this deeply misunderstood, brilliant and complex Australian travel to historical figure. Over the years Leichhardt has been Asia in the 20th and denigrated by some commentators and early 21st century disregarded in many historical overviews. Dr Rod Fensham, recipient of the nancy agnieszka Sobocinska, a recipient of Keesing Fellowship, hopes to elevate the the milt Luger Fellowship, is underestimated but brilliant Leichhardt. examining how people internalised He wants to develop the historical and ideas about asia and asians before geographic significance and context of they left australia, and what effect Leichhardt’s journals, and to publish this had on the way they gazed at them with an introductory essay, their destinations. She is focusing explanatory notes, photos and figures. particularly on the period from 1939 to the present day and will look at the various types of travel to asia, For more information about including military, business and fellowships at the State Library of leisure travel, and the issues nSW visit: surrounding australian travel and www.sl.nsw.gov.au/about/awards expatriation to asian nations. agnieszka Sobocinska
magazine 23 our favourite cookbooks most of us will have a well-thumbed cookbook or two, but what about our famous chefs? in may, the State Library invited Jared ingersoll of Dank Street Depot fame, gay Bilson, restaurateur and cook at the helm of the Berowra Waters inn for 18 years, and the Library’s maggie Patton to share their favourite cookbooks.
mong an eclectic list that included marketed for lovers, this illustrated Larousse gastronomique by volume, with an introduction by graham Aescoffier, The whole beast: Nose greene, offers a range of aphrodisiac to tail eating by Fergus Henderson and recipes including elderflower fritters, The Star Wars cookbook, new intoxicating love drinks, and crane zealander Jared ingersoll cited the new cooked with red wine and leopard’s zealand classic Sure to rise by Thomas marrow in goat’s milk! J edmonds as his first, and one of his maggie Patton selected a favourite favourite cookbooks. Sure to rise was from the Library’s collection — Hannah created by twenty-year-old Thomas J glasse’s modestly titled The art of edmonds who developed and sold his cookery, made plain and easy: which own baking powder, which he assured far exceeds any thing of the kind ever his customers was ‘sure to rise’. The first yet published. edition of edmonds’ cookery book was The book was printed in 1747 in published in 1907, but subsequent London and became a best seller. The editions of the book with its staple of Library is fortunate to have received one recipes for scones, puddings, rolls, of the very few copies of the book from cakes and buns have helped to sell over collector and benefactor John Hoyle. three million copies. Reproductions of a selection of the Overseas influences were apparent Library’s australian cookbooks are in many of gay Bilson’s favourite cookery currently books —The legendary cuisine of Persia on display. by margaret Shaida, Medieval cuisine of the Islamic world by Lilia zaouali and Chinese gastronomy by Hsiang Ju Lin and Tsuifeng Lin, but there among the list was also Venus in the kitchen or love’s cookery book by norman Douglas.
Clockwise from top: Douglas, norman (ed), Venus in the kitchen or love’s cookery book, great Britain, 1952 glasse, Hannah, The art of cookery, made plain and easy: which far exceeds any thing of the kind ever yet published ... London, printed for the author, and sold at mrs ashburn’s, a china shop, 1747 gay Bilson, Jared ingersoll and maggie Patton at the Library to share their favourite cookbooks TJ edmonds, Sure to rise cookery book, 1914, Christchurch, part of new zealand Texts Collection, www.nzetc.org
24 magazine caFe trim recipe hearty ham and
n 1916, april 25 was officially named anzaC Day to vegetable Icommemorate the sacrifice of australian and new zealand soup soldiers at gallipoli. in that year, there were ceremonies across 2 tbs olive oil australia to mark the day, 2 onions, finely chopped including a luncheon hosted on 2 sticks celery, finely chopped anzaC Day by the Lord mayor 2 carrots, finely chopped of the City of Sydney for 2 cloves garlic, sliced returned soldiers. This 1 large smoked ham hock illustrated menu was produced 3 litres chicken stock (preferably for the occasion and is one of homemade) several menus included in the 3 litres water Sir William Dixson collection. 2 x 400g cans diced tomatoes 250g packet soup mix, rinsed and drained 250g dried kidney beans, soaked in ample cold water overnight 1 bay leaf ¼ cabbage, trimmed, core removed and sliced thinly sea salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste freshly chopped parsley, to serve shaved parmesan cheese, to serve
Method Heat a large (8-litre) saucepan over a medium heat. add oil, onion, celery and carrot. Cook (4 to 5 minutes) until vegetables begin to soften. add garlic, ham hock, stock, water, tomatoes, soup mix, beans & bay leaf. Bring to the boil, reduce heat & simmer loosely covered (2-2½ hours) JC Bancks was the creator of until beans are tender & meat is falling ginger meggs, who made his first from the bone of the ham hock. appearance in 1921 under the Remove the hock from the soup & name Us Fellers. Bancks illustrated shred meat. Discard the bones, skin a number of Whoopee cocktail & connective tissue. Return the meat recipes and this is one of a to the soup. Stir through cabbage, number in the collection at season to taste, & simmer 2-3 the Library. minutes until cabbage is tender. Serve hot, topped with a little chopped above: Luncheon tendered to the parsley & shaved parmesan cheese. returned soldiers by the Hon. RD Place in container & refrigerate or meagher, Lord mayor and the aldermen of the City of Sydney on freeze in portioned quantities. the 1st anniversary of anzaC Day, Will keep well (4 to 5 days) in the april 25th 1916, Sydney (nSW), municipal Council of Sydney, refrigerator & up to three months in 1916, DL Card File 2/36 the freezer. Serves 8-10. Right: a Whoopee cocktail recipe recipe provided by Cafe trim, from Usher's Hotel, Bancks, JC (illustrator), Exclusive cocktails: located next to the Library Shop from the recipes of Usher's Hotel, on the ground floor. Sydney, Usher's metropolitan Hotel, 1933, mL 641.874/5
magazine 25 an indispensable kitchen aid
‘a man will promise Like many early works of the genre, companion (c. 1875), readers can the Antipodean was oriented towards glean information on everything from anything before housewives and young women boiling potatoes to the management marriage, very little after.’ contemplating marriage. of horse stables. mrs Rawson learnt about bush food and for those requiring recipes for So cautioned mrs Lance from the local aboriginal people and alcohol-free meals, there is The urged others to do the same. Her books temperance cookery book of 1896. Rawson in her emphasised the value and importance of The war eras saw a proliferation of Antipodean Cookery this unconventional fare. books with recipes targeted to meet Together with a host of other notable food shortages and their proceeds Book (1897), when authors, mrs Rawson is represented in directed to various relief efforts. Poignant the Australian Cookbooks at the State cover illustrations highlight the suffering suggesting that Library display in the macquarie Cases and isolation of our forces in far-off prospective brides of on the lower ground floor. The display lands. Cookery book cover-art presents reproductions of a selection developed rapidly in the early twentieth bushmen insist on a of items from the 1860s to the present, century, replacing the predominantly and tracks the development of this textual colonial era covers. stove at the outset. indispensable kitchen aid. generations of nSW school students The earliest known cookbook acquired their culinary skills from The by an australian author is edward commonsense cookery book. First abbott’s The English and Australian published in 1914, it went on to become cookery book: Cookery for the many, a standard text in the state’s schools. as well as for the ‘upper ten Then there are the specialty areas, thousand’. Published in London in as with Winsom gilbert’s 1958 1864, it contains recipes for publication, The burnt offering: (how australian game and produce, as NOT to barbecue), which claims to be well as for the traditional dishes of australia’s first barbecue cookbook. the ‘mother Country’. it also extols and with the advent of the revolutionary the virtues of australian wine. microwave oven, recipes and techniques Within the 32 tiny pages of oriented to this new method of cooking Frank Weston's Australian emerged.
26 magazine as australians embraced cuisine John Hoyle with maggie Beer at the State Library, from around the world a remarkable How to cook photo by Scott Wajon selection of works providing exciting new culinary experiences appeared. black swan Cooking the Chinese way (1948) was cookbook an early example. Black Swan (australia) – now, with changing lifestyles, The cygnets of the black swan are food habits and allergies, there is a dressed in the same manner as collector cookery book for everyone — gluten- the white species. When young free, low gi, fusion, mod Oz — not to they are tender, and if properly extraordinaire mention the plethora of ‘celebrity’ chef roasted, with good sauce, they are cookery books. eatable; and that is all we can say. he State Library of nSW had as with any genre, cookery writing the best collection of early extract from abbott, edward, The English and has its giants. From pioneer days Australian cookery book for the many, as well T australian cookery books in onwards, authors have produced as for the ‘upper ten thousand’ London, australia, but then collector John Sampson Low, Son, and marston, 1864, mL groundbreaking works which have DSm/641.59901/8a1 Hoyle generously gave the Library become all-time classics. his collection of pre–1950s australian The australian cookbooks on display cookery books, and now it is superb. at the State Library document our tastes There are three books John would in food and food fashions for almost a Left to right: Rawson, mrs Lance, The antipodean like to acquire — for the Library of century and a half. We see the impact cookery book and kitchen companion, 5th edn, course — the first edition 1899 melbourne, Sydney, george Robertson & Co., 1907, on food of war, celebration, the great mL 641.5/R Goulburn cookery book and the first Depression, migration, as well as new geechoun, Roy, Cooking the Chinese way, melbourne, and second editions of the 1895 technology such as refrigeration. They W D Joynt & Co., 1948, mL 645.5951/g NSW Presbyterian cookery book. reveal what we ate at the best of times australian Comforts Fund, nSW Division, The war chest not surprisingly, John’s passion cookery book, Sydney, Websdale, Shoosmith Ltd., 1917, and the worst of times and, as such, give mL 641.5/C for cookery books started with a love us a fabulous insight into our social history. affair with food. He was fortunate that mcgowan, Henrietta C, The Keeyuga cookery book, pat turner, Curator melbourne, Thomas C. Lothian, 1911, mL 641.5/m his mother was a great cook and had abbott, edward, The English and Australian cookery a cafe in the country when he was www.sl/nsw/gov.au/events/ book: cookery for the many, as well as for the ‘upper ten growing up. thousand’, London, Sampson Low, Son, and marston, exhibitions/2008/cookbooks 1864, mL DSm/641.59901/8a1 John says he started seriously collecting cookery books in the 1980s when he was retired. ‘i targeted second-hand book shops then i struck lucky with a melbourne book seller who had some really good cookery books. He used to head straight for the kitchen at deceased estate auctions.’ The collection John gave to the Library stops at 1951, but he has an even greater collection of cookbooks right up to the present. ‘Cookbooks reveal so much about social history and economic and migrant influences.’ He says it is interesting to see how recipes are rediscovered. ‘i have seen ‘new’ recipes publicised today in 1930s cookery books.’ Reproductions of a selection of cookbooks from John Hoyle’s collection are now on display at the State Library.
magazine 27 eco-fashion makes an impact
nvironmental experts are warning us that climate change is looming Eas a global emergency with drastic long-term consequences. We are being urged, individually and collectively, to do what we can to reduce our eco-footprint. it seems fashion might be one area where we can all have an impact — by making do, rather than buying new. Looking back at previous ‘hard times’, the culture of frugality is particularly evident among those who have lived through economic crisis and social upheaval. During World War ii, the three r’s of the modern environmental curriculum: reduce – recycle – reuse, quickly became second nature. Clothing rationing was introduced in 1942, and the Australian Women’s Weekly immediately filled its fashion pages with colourful sketches depicting fun and inventive ways to breathe new life into garments already worn weary by wartime privations. intent on keeping up appearances on the home front, the Weekly encouraged women to scour the rag bag and devise their own mode of camouflage, proclaiming ‘Let us be gay in the oddest bits & pieces’. in 1943, the Commonwealth Rationing Board released its New Clothes from Old pamphlet, aimed at preventing the materials in outdated garments from going to waste. Women were advised to ‘ransack those drawers and cupboards for discarded clothing’, and given practical instructions for converting disused garments into wearable fashions. Under the banner, ‘renovation helps the nation’, the pamphlet promised that ‘once you’ve got the knack of clothing renovation, new garments will grow out of the old’. Regrettably, the art of adding new life to old clothes is just one of the thrifty skills that seems to have been lost with the post-war acceleration of our consumer driven culture. Fashion, like many things today, is designed for obsolescence. not only do we buy the latest fashion, but we discard anything out of fashion, perpetuating a cycle of waste. added
above: Australian Women’s to that is the process of manufacturing Weekly, 8 august 1942 (cover) clothes, which is extremely damaging Right: ‘Seaside saunter’ to the environment, as is the cost of modelled by Olwen Pryke, Office of Strategy management packaging, transporting, cleaning and Photos by andrew Lamoreaux disposal.
28 magazine Left: ‘Old School Tie’ modelled by Deb mcBurnie, media & Communictions
environmentally-conscious spin-off event from the Impact: A consumers are becoming more changing land exhibition. Presented in concerned about fair trade, ethical conjunction with The Vintage Clothing production and the use of organic Shop, Library staff promenaded a manufacturing processes and this is spectacular array of vibrant, fun-filled being manifested in the eco-fashion looks before a packed audience, doing trend. The term ‘eco-fashion’ also much to dispell the myth that fashions encompasses second-hand clothes low in eco-impact must also lack style. and clothing that has been reworked individually, people may have limited from existing garments or manufactured control over their eco-footprint, but using recycled materials. These are not collectively, their choices and values can new concepts. many traditional textile matter a great deal and act as powerful and clothing recycling practices were agents for change. With thoughtful developed in response to crises in materials selection, garment care and global, national or individual reuse, our clothes can make an eloquent circumstances. in recent years, new statement about our environmental ways of buying old things (using eBay for commitment. if consuming less, and example) have given reuse and recycling differently, is our next stylistic challenge, a much needed makeover. then yes, green is the new black. Libraries represent the very antithesis Margot riley, Original Materials of the ‘throw away’ mentality of modern society. Stockpiling information, safe- in 2005, Margot was awarded the guarding knowledge and conserving inaugural State Librarian’s Staff resources for future generations is core fellowship to develop an online guide business for repositories such as the to the dating and interpretation of State Library of nSW. visual evidence in images of people earlier this year, the State Library from the State Library’s collections. staged an eco-fashion parade as a
climate change advocate sam Meers
Sam meers, who was one of 250 shared this vision, so we worked ‘Two things australians chosen to participate in together to create the exhibition Impact: stand out for me former US Vice President and nobel A changing land. from the gore Peace Prize winner al gore s Climate ‘The aim of the exhibition was to give program. The Change Leadership Program in 2007, climate change an historical context. By first was how describes it as a once in a lifetime looking at the past, we learn about the inspiring it was experience. and it confirmed her positive and negative impacts we have to be with commitment to raising community had on the environment, and this enables people who were so passionate and awareness about climate change. us to think constructively about what we motivated to do something about as executive Director of the nelson need to do in the future to deal with issues climate change. meers Foundation, a philanthropic like climate change and sustainability. ‘The second was gore s foundation which funds projects which ‘The State Library has an enormous compelling argument that if the global advance the visual, literary and mandate to explore issues like this community can come together to performing arts, Sam already had a because the community sees it as a deal with climate change an issue long relationship with the State Library. trusted source of information. which affects everyone on the planet The foundation has supported the as part of her commitment to the then it provides the moral Heritage Collection exhibition for Climate Change Leadership Program, blueprint to tackle other significant several years, so she knew of the Sam will give ten presentations on issues confronting the world, such as Library s significant collection of climate change by the end of this year. poverty, famine and disease. historical environmental material. She has done four so far, mainly pitched ‘The realisation that everything is i wanted the public to have at the philanthropic community. She interconnected, and that this is not access to this fantastic collection says her motivation comes from just about climate change, was a at this critical point in the climate giving people the opportunity to better light bulb moment for me. change debate, and the Library understand climate change.
magazine 29 prize-winning books Kibble award for women writers
This year’s winner of the nita B Kibble Literary award for Women Writers is South australian Carol Lefevre, for her first novel Nights in the asylum. The $20 000 Kibble award was established by ms nita may Dobbie 14 years ago to advance australian literature and to help provide an incentive to female writers. it can only be awarded to a female author of a work written and published during the period of the award, which describes day-to-day australian life. The chair of the judging panel, the State Library’s Jerelynn Brown, said ‘Carol Lefevre skillfully draws the reader into a tale of journeys and characters whose lives coincide briefly in a quintessentially australian outback town. Nights in the asylum is a remarkable novel’. earlier this year Nights in the asylum was short-listed in the Commonwealth Writer's Prize for best first book, South east asia and South Pacific. Nights in the asylum was simultaneously published by Random House australia and Picador UK. Other authors short-listed for the 2008 Kibble award included gail Jones’ Sorry (Vintage), and mireille Juchau’s Burning in (giramondo). The 2008 Dobbie encouragement award for a first published work was presented to Karen Foxlee for her book The anatomy of wings (University of QLD Press). ms Brown said The anatomy of wings ‘is a troubling story told sensitively through the voice of a girl grieving for her sister. ‘Karen Foxlee makes the reader feel the sinister, stifling nature of the deeply and recognisably suburban setting,’ she said. Other works short-listed for the Dobbie award were Jessica White’s A curious intimacy (Penguin) and emma Hardman’s Nine Top L to R: David Deverall, managing Director Perpetual, parts water (University of QLD Press). Carol Lefevre, winner of the Kibble Perpetual Limited and mr Bryan Small are co-trustees for the award, Scott Riedel, Head of Perpetual Private Clients, Karen awards. Since 1994 Perpetual has distributed nearly $300 000 Foxlee, winner of the Dobbie to some of australia’s leading female authors. award and monique Cronin, Perpetual Private Clients Regional manager nSW and aCT, photo courtesy Perpetual National Biography Award above: graham Seal (left) and Phillip Dwyer (right) joint winners of the national Biography award, with For the third time, two authors with vastly different stories have Regina Sutton (left) and judge Carmel Bird (right), shared the $20 000 national Biography award. photo by Scott Wajon The 2008 winners are Philip Dwyer for Napoleon, 1769 –1799: The path to power (Bloomsbury) and graham Seal for These few lines: A convict story – the lost lives of Myra and William Sykes (aBC Books). Philip Dwyer’s ambitious biography of the infamous French leader, and graham Seal’s powerful and moving nineteenth century convict story were shortlisted from 33 entries. The judges of this year’s award, critic and writer Carmel Bird, academic and writer John Dale and author gideon Haigh, praised the winners for ‘the meticulous scholarship’ of their books, ‘coupled with an engaging structure and a bright, individual style of writing’. additional titles shortlisted were: Judith godden’s Lucy Osburn: A lady displaced (Sydney University Press); Barry Jones’ A thinking reed (allen & Unwin); mark Kurzem’s The mascot (Penguin/Viking) Former nSW Premier Bob Carr will present the and Chris masters’ Jonestown: The power and the myth of Alan annual national Biography award lecture on Jones (allen & Unwin). 19 november 2008 at the State Library. The national Biography award is administered and presented Bookings essential (02) 9273 1770 by the State Library on behalf of its generous benefactors geoffrey Cains and michael Crouch aO.
30 magazine top 5 library shop picks Quality australian books at the Library Shop at much reduced prices Plastered: The poster art of Australian popular music by Murray walding with Nick Vukovic Plastered is a journey through popular music poster art, and features over 500 posters. in the introductory essay by Roger Butler, we learn where poster art sits in the world of art, while murray Walding evokes the stories of the artists, promoters and performers that surround these posters. Library Shop price $24.95 (friends of the Library $22.50) Was $69.95 Caroline Overington, winner of the Blake Dawson Prize, photo courtesy Blake Dawson Max Dupain notebook Jill White has selected over 50 beautifully reproduced Blake Dawson Prize classic Dupain photographs for this large spiral bound notebook. The notebook has feint ruled pages for Business Literature opposite each photograph and can be used as a travel journal, diary or sketchbook — not to mention Kickback: Inside the Australian Wheat the most stylish by-the-phone pad imaginable. Board scandal (allen & Unwin), the Library Shop price $12.95 (friends of the Library compelling story of the australian $11.70 ) Was $34.95 Wheat Board's kickbacks to the iraqi government, written by Caroline Sydney: An Oxford anthology, edited by richard hall Overington, is this year’s winner of the The late great Richard Hall, former Library Council Blake Dawson Prize for Business President, was exceptionally well read and astute. Literature. in this volume he has produced a collection of Written in a cracking style that belies journalism, letters, travel writing, poems and the length and complexity of the Cole novel extracts on Sydney from many leading inquiry, Kickback weaves the fascinating lights, including governor macquarie, Charles story of the events leading up to the Darwin, Caroline Chisholm, arthur Streeton and eventual payment of over $290 million Christina Stead. in bribes to the iraqi government. Library Shop price $17.95 (friends of the Library Overington, the journalist with The $16.15) Was $43.95 Australian who broke the story, has written a fascinating account of a cover- Celebrating wilderness, edited by ian brown up of massive proportions. Wilderness scholars and activists contribute eloquent The $30 000 prize, now in its fourth essays and stunning photographs from across year, was established by Blake Dawson australia, ranging from history and philosophy, to to encourage the highest standards of activism and management, to ideas and the future, literary commentary on australian and from the tropical north to the South Pole. if a business and financial affairs. it is the scholarly book can be a coffee table book this is it! largest prize for this type of literature Library Shop price $24.95 (friends of the Library and is administered by the State Library $22.50) Was $60 of nSW. The judges were mahla Pearlman aO, Legendary tales of the Australian Aborigines, alan Cameron am, Professor Richard by David unaipon, edited by Stephen Muecke Fisher am and george maltby aO. and adam Shoemaker Other titles shortlisted were edna David Unaipon was an aboriginal activist, scientist, Carew’s National market national writer, preacher and inventor. in the 1920s he was interest: The drive to unify Australia’s commissioned to collect traditional aboriginal stories securities markets (allen & Unwin), Sam from around South australia. His stories were everingham’s Wild ride: The rise and fall published in 1930, but he was never acknowledged of Cobb & Co (Penguin), and Frank as author. in producing this edition, muecke and Clarke and graeme Dean’s Indecent Shoemaker right this injustice by working with disclosure: Gilding the corporate lily Unaipon’s original manuscript and typescript. (Cambridge University Press). Library Shop price $11.95 (friends of the Library $10.75) Was $24.95
magazine 31 exhibitions events upcoming events at the library
Free exhibitions Studio events in Studio stories II the Galleries Date: thursday 18 September 2008 time: 6 pm to 8 pm, artists’ talk at 7 pm Art and money Venue: galleries, Mitchell wing Date: thursday 10 July 2008 Cost: $15 time: 5.30 pm for 6 pm in this special exhibition Venue: galleries, Mitchell wing viewing, introduced by Cost: $22, $20 (seniors) photographer R ian Lloyd, $15 (friends & students) artists Wendy Sharpe and angus nivison includes light refreshments invite you inside their amazing studios John mcDonald is an acclaimed art and talk candidly about their day-to-day Lucy Culliton 2004 critic and writer, and R ian Lloyd is a life, travel and artistic influences. Studio: Australian painters photographer for National Geographic photographed by R. Ian Lloyd magazine and creator of the successful All things French — to 12 october 2008 Studio exhibition. adrian newstead is Featuring extraordinary large-format Director of Coo-ee aboriginal art and at the Library portraits of 61 artists’ studios by was senior aboriginal art specialist with photographer R ian Lloyd, with candid Deutscher-menzies. Join them as they French panorama words by writer and critic John discuss money matters in the art world. Date: tuesday 22 July 2008 mcDonald, revealing the artists’ moods, time: 5.30 pm for 6 pm motivations and working methods. How to be a famous artist by 30! Venue: Dixson room, Mitchell wing Date: thursday 14 august 2008 Cost: $22, $20 (seniors) time: 6 pm for 6.30 pm $15 (friends & students), Venue: galleries, Mitchell wing includes light refreshments Cost: $22, $20 (seniors) Join two top Francophiles: associate $15 (friends, SL u35 & students) Professor Ross Steele am (The French includes light refreshments way and Rucking France 2007), acclaimed art critic and speaking about what’s new in France writer John mcDonald since Sarkozy; and author and TV reveals the secrets to presenter mary moody sharing her success in the cutthroat world of art. He French provincial food favourites from is joined by R ian Lloyd, photographer her book The long table: My love affair Loran 16 & Kiakaha 16 and creator of the successful Studio with food. Home truths exhibition, book and DVD, featuring 18 august to 7 December 2008 leading australian artists in their studios. French gardens: Paris and The compelling and eloquent accounts Giverny of the lives of ordinary people are told Date: wednesday 23 July 2008 through a series of photo–interviews. time: 12.10 pm to 2 pm Venue: Metcalfe auditorium, Wisdom Macquarie Street wing 10 october to 16 November Cost: free many of the world’s most inspiring and Renowned author, academic and iconic individuals over the age of 65 television presenter, retired botanist Dr years are captured in extraordinary Peter Valder, gives an illustrated talk on original portraits and filmed interviews the gardens of Paris. His talk is followed by a screening of the movie Monet’s R ian Lloyd and John mcDonald Australian Cookbooks at the garden at Giverny, which explores the State Library Studio: Australian painters enduring legacy of beauty in artist and ongoing photographed by R. Ian Lloyd horticulturist monet's garden and art. Reproductions of a selection of australian Gallery talks cookbooks, documenting our tastes in Date: tuesday 2 September or French indulgences food for almost a century and a half. wednesday 1 october 2008 Date: thursday 24 July 2008 time: 12.30 pm to 1.30 pm time: 5.30 pm for 6 pm to 7.30 pm Venue: galleries, Mitchell wing Venue: Members room, Mitchell wing Cost: $15 Cost: $22, $20 (seniors) gaLLeRY OPening HOURS: engage with critic John mcDonald and $15 (friends & students) monday to Thursday: 9 am to 8 pm photographer R ian Lloyd as they includes light refreshments Friday: 9 am to 5 pm discuss the making of their exhibition, Renowned restaurateur Tony Bilson Weekends: 10 am to 5 pm which offers a unique insight into some speaks about contemporary cuisine and of australia's most acclaimed artists. the aesthetics of the modern kitchen.
32 magazine exhibitions events
writing, The worst intentions is the saga of a Jewish-italian family, whose staggering rise and fall provides the backdrop to this remarkable tragicomedy, set in the opulent win neighbourhoods of contemporary Rome. an exclusive Sydney talk with multi award-winning author alessandro a Studio Piperno. in association with the italian Tony Bilson institute of Culture. Restaurant reviewer and author Stephen book Downes recounts his passion for food The medieval garden and fine-dining in the city of lights in Date: thursday 25 September 2008 Paris on a plate. Dedicated chef Damien time: 5.30 pm for 6 pm worth $80 Pignolet, recognised for his French Venue: Dixson room, Mitchell wing classical and provincial cooking, passes Cost: $22, $20 (seniors), on his knowledge and techniques in his $15 (friends & students), book French. all rounded off with includes light refreshments sommelier Tim Stock, who reveals the Renowned horticulturalist and garden complexities and nuances of French wine. historian Judyth mcLeod’s book, In a unicorn’s garden, recreates the mystery French film: Orpheé et Eurydice and magic of medieval gardens. garden Date: wednesday 30 July 2008 design based on themes of significance time: 12.10 pm to 2 pm in the medieval world will be discussed Venue: Metcalfe auditorium, along with the history, society, culture, Macquarie Street wing religion and mythology relating to each Cost: free theme. Learn about a medieval cook’s Be enthralled by the ancient greek myth garden, a garden of eternal life and a of Orpheus who descends into Hades to paradise garden, in this illustrated talk. bring his love, eurydice, back to life as it is sung in French (with english subtitles). Out of the vaults series This remarkable production features Date: thursday 2 october and first dancers of the meryl Tankard australian thursday of the month Dance Theatre, the australian Opera time: 5.30 pm for 6 pm mail the State Library for your Chorus and Dancers, and the australian Venue: Meet in the Shakespeare room, chance to win a stunning book Opera and Ballet Orchestra, and David Mitchell wing Eof photography or a Library Hobson (Orpheé), miriam gormley Cost: $25, includes drinks and canapés Shop gift voucher. (L'amour) and amanda Thane (eurydice). (limited to 20 people) artists, writers and filmmakers each month, enjoy an intimate viewing in have mined the State Library’s Other event highlights the Sir William Dixson Research Library incredible resources for elusive facts, of an intriguing rare item from the stories and historical context. We Library’s world-renowned collection. hope the new SL magazine has This month Senior Curator Paul Brunton inspired you to visit the Library, to see introduces galileo’s Dialogo … sopre I one of our stunning exhibitions, learn due massimi sistemi del mondo something fascinating at one of our Tolemaico, e Copernicano. Published in many events or explore our fabulous Florence in 1632, this is one of the great collections. landmark books of Western civilisation. To celebrate the first issue of SL it is galileo’s formal defence of the magazine, the Library Shop is giving Copernican view of the solar system, away a copy of Studio: Australian which led to his arrest and life painters on the nature of creativity, alessandro Piperno imprisonment. The State Library of nSW with photography by R ian Lloyd and The worst intentions by has the only copy in australia. text by John mcDonald. The richly Alessandro Piperno illustrated book, available at the Date: tuesday 26 august 2008 Library Shop for $80, accompanies time: 5.30 pm for 6 pm the exhibition currently showing in the Venue: Dixson room, Mitchell wing For a full program of events see: State Library galleries. Cost: Cost: $22, $20 (seniors) www.sl.nsw.gov.au. The first reader to email $15 (friends, students and friends To book events, receive @ the [email protected] before of the italian institute of Culture), Library, or the Library’s 5 pm Wednesday 16 July will receive includes light refreshments e-newsletter phone (02) 9273 1770 a copy of the book. The next 10 Justly compared to the works of Philip or email [email protected] readers will each win a $25 Library Roth and Saul Bellow with its explosive Shop voucher.
magazine 33 event hIGhlIGhts highlights
it’s magic! February 08 margaret Robbins shared tales of her famous magician husband Robert merlini, and Steve Hart, from Hey Presto, pulled some magic out of his hat with a Bringing the music of the Rimini antiphonal to life special performance, while guests march 08 enjoyed a display of rare items from the Library’s Robbins Stage magic and an appreciative crowd in the mitchell Vestibule, enjoyed australia’s first ever Conjuring Collection. performance of music from the Rimini antiphonal of 1328, performed by St Laurence gregorian Schola and Singers margaret Robbins with magicians Steve Hart and gary Cohen Photo by andrew Lamoreaux Photo by andrew Lamoreaux
moran Photographic Prizes 2008 march 08 The world’s richest portrait prize — the $100 000 Doug moran national Portrait Prize and the moran Contemporary Photographic Prize attracted a stellar crowd of artists and photographers to the Library for the announcement of the winners.
north Sullivan (judge), Belinda mason winner Photography Portrait Prize, mark moran, Fiona Lowry winner Portrait Prize, Premier of nSW, the Hon. morris iemma, Regina Sutton, greta moran, Doug moran, Rob Thomas Photo by Scott Wajon
eco-fashion and sustainable style February 08 it was hard to know who enjoyed this eco-fashion parade more — the Library staff who modeled the wonderful creations or the audience. With some help from The Vintage Clothing Shop, and a little imagination, a ‘green’ wardrobe is within the reach of all!
Library staff and friends were models for the eco-fashion parade Photo by andrew Lamoreaux
34 magazine event hIGhlIIGhts
moran Prizes 2008 Custodians Cocktail Changing the cultural School Visit april 08 gathering april 08 climate april 08 mark moran, CeO, moran arts a scintillating and humorous a host of bright minds — writers, Foundation, was on hand to welcome evening with the passionate Paul broadcasters and environmentalists — enthusiastic students from Beverly Hills Brunton on one of his favourite spent a lively evening discussing how north and marton Public Schools to the subjects – the politics and power they will meet the cultural changes that photography workshop at the Library. of Bligh’s Sydney Rebellion 1808. are expected to flow from climate change. mark moran at the photography workshop for schools Valerie Thom, Paul Brunton, ian Thom Photo by Scott Wajon Photo by andrew Lamoreaux Robyn Williams aO, nigel allen, Sarah Knox, Professor Jane goodall Photo by Scott Wajon
Launch of Looking North online april 08 among the appreciative crowd at the launch of this new online collection were prominent residents of the Upper north Shore, who admired items featured in the new collection, including the original manuscript of ethel Turner's Seven Little Australians and the ceremonial spade used to turn the first sod of the north Shore railway in 1887.
Rachel and geoffrey O’Connor, sponsors of the online collection Photo by Scott Wajon
Launch of Eureka! The Rush for Gold online april 08 gold proved an irresistible attraction as gold miners and gold mining company executives rubbed shoulders at the launch of this new atmitchell collection on the australian gold rushes of the 1850s. The world famous Holtermann World Press Photo may 08 collection of glass-plate negatives, depicting the gold-mining towns of Hill Over 80 000 images were submitted by about 5000 photographers for this year’s end and gulgong, were among many annual World Press Photo competition, making the exhibition of winning images a stars of the evening. huge drawcard for the Library.
Rob Thomas, Regina Sutton, ed efhuys, managing erik de Kruijf of World Press Photo provides a fascinating insight to the world’s most prestigious photojournalism Director and CeO St Barbara Ltd and graham Bradley exhibition at the media preview on 7 may Photo by andrew Lamoreaux Photo by Scott Wajon
magazine 35 Q&a andrew daddo andrew Daddo is host of the Where do the ideas in your kid’s doing and the writing. my friend’s wife evenings Show on 702 aBC books come from? and his daughter enjoyed the story. For a long time i have borrowed from my Sydney and aBC Local Radio own childhood. as kids we were pretty Are you ever going to try adult in nSW and in the aCT. He has nutty and it’s amazing how easy it is to fiction? been an actor, a presenter on a get dragged into a good time by one of i’m fiddling about with an idea now. your brothers. Then i discovered it was Just this morning, i thought about variety of television programs fun to take normal, mundane moments changing the perspective of the piece including Australia's Funniest of the day and knock them about. i to make it a kid’s book. People, and is a regular mean, i wouldn’t consider tying a sheet to the back of the dog, and tossing it out What do you like about radio reporter on Channel 7’s the window to watch it gently float into compared to TV and writing? The Great Outdoors. andrew the Jacaranda tree out the back, but Radio was the job i have always thought has written 11 very popular that’s what i like about writing for kids — i wanted to do and now i know why. it’s they think i might. the fact that when you talk to someone children’s books and recently a you generally have time to get a little memoir, It’s All Good. Which books did you enjoy reading deeper than ‘g’day, how’re you going, when you were a kid and why? great to chat, let’s get back to the music i wasn’t a big reader until my early teens. ... ' Radio is rewarding and potentially i read, of course, but nothing blew my horrifying, but i love it. i love TV and hair back (that was when i had hair). writing, too. i guess now, all creative Then i read That Was Then, This Is Now. parts of me are sated. Oh, hang on i it’s one of those coming of age novels. haven’t tried painting yet … after reading that, i wanted to find more books that i felt were written for me. Is there a Great Outdoors That’s why i like writing stories about experience that went horribly boys and girls and those formative wrong? moments — it might help, but it’ll also maoist rebels burnt down our make them laugh. accommodation whilst we were in it — without telling us. if it wasn’t for our What kinds of books do you enjoy producer, there’s a fair chance we might reading now? have slept through it (fatigue and a few i oscillate between fiction and nonfiction. beers will do it every time). From pulpy, airport type books to big, strong memoirs. i’ll read almost anything Name one place you have no desire and try to keep in mind that someone to go (or go back to)? has taken a LOT of time to write it. my mum taught us ‘if you haven’t got anything nice to say ...’ Having said that, What prompted you to write a i can’t imagine dragging the kids to iron memoir? Knob. never heard of it? That might be It’s all good began as a letter to my a good thing. friend’s daughter. i thought she’d like to know some things about her father Have you ever coveted another job who had recently passed away. The — if so, what is it? letter got longer and longer and a friend The grass is often greener, but i’m happy suggested i should write a new book. with my lawn at the moment. i think i said i was busy with this letter. One there have been TV shows i might have thing led to another and we decided to liked being part of, or radio programs i make it a letter for everyone. i suppose would have liked to do. The main thing many of us have thought about travelling (he says sounding like a generic across america, and we’ve all sportsman) is to make the most of the experienced loss in some form, and opportunities offered. That way, you the book is about those two things. it might get offered another one.
was a terrific experience – both the andrew Daddo, courtesy aBC Local Radio
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